Speed adjusting mechanism for disk type camera shutters



J. MIHALYI Jan. 9, '1951 SPEED ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR DISK TYPE CAMERASHUTTERS Filed July 8, 1949 JOSEPH MIIiALYI I VENTOR ATTORNEYJ PatentedJan. 9, 1951 SPEED ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR DISK TYPE CAMERA SHUTTERSJoseph Mihalyi, Rochester, N. Y., assignor to Eastman Kodak Company,Rochester, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Applicationuly 8, 1949,Serial No. 103,707

Claims.

This invention relates to photography and more particularly toinexpensive variable speed camera shutters. One object of my inventionis to provide a shutter exposure adjusting mechanism by which exposuresof various durations can be obtained. Another object of my invention isto provide a variable speed shutter mechanism suitable for shutters ofthe type in which shutter disks move across an exposure aperture to openand then close the aperture. A still further object of my invention isto provide a shutter exposure adjusting mechanism by which the effectivewidth of a slot between two shutter disks can be readily altered atwill.A still further object of my invention is to provide a suitable meansfor holding two shutter disks together with a fixed slotbetween them,and to move one shutter disk relative to the other for varying the widthof the slot. Other objects will appear from the following specification,the novel features being particularly pointed out in the claims atthe'end thereof.

Disk-type shutters have the advantage of being both inexpensive andreliable, but it has not always .been a simple matter to so arrange twodisk shutters as to be able to readily adjust the effective width of anexposure slot formed by the two shutter blades. Such shutters may beused either adjacent a focal plane where comparatively small film isemployed, such as mm. or mm. film, for instance; or such shutters may beused adjacent the camera objective in the more usual manner. The shutterexposure adjusting mechanism of the present invention is particularlyadapted for use with a shutter having a driving mechanism of the typedisclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 79,292, for CameraShutter, filed March 2,

Coming now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote likeparts throughout:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged perspective fragmentary view, partially insection, showing a shutterexposure adjusting mechanism constructed in"shutter disks to rotate in unison;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view through the shutter blades andthe adjusting mechanism for varying the relationship of these blades;the

blades being shown in position; and

tween the shutter blades to determine exposure. Referring to Fig. 2, thepresent embodiment of my invention may be built into a camera bodydesignated broadly as I, having a front wall 2 supporting a cameraobjective 3. A trigg'er 4 may be mounted on the front wall 2, thefunction of this trigger being to release the shutter to, make anexposure. The camera may include an exposure frame 5 lying behind andcoaxial with the objective 3. Film may be moved from a supply spool 6 toa take-up spool 1 past the exposure frame 5 in the usual manner, afilm-winding knob 8 being adapted "to turn the spool 1 through a windingkey 9. A

speed-setting member ID is indicated as being mounted on one wall II ofthe camera so that by bringing one of the graduations l2 opposite apointer I3 on the camera, the speed of an exposure may be determined.

The shutter mechanism may be similar to that 'shown'in myabove-mentioned copending application, insofar as the means for drivingthe shutter past the exposure aperture goes, al-'- though it differsfrom the above-mentioned application in that instead of providing asingle shutter blade (which is all that is necessary for a singleexposure of predetermined time), I utilize a pair of shutter blades.

In the present embodiment, the shutter may consist of a support l5 whichmay carry a stud IE on which two disk-type shutter blades are mounted;one blade I! being mounted to turn on the stud I6 and the other blade 18being mounted to turn and also slide on the stud Hi. In the operation ofthe shutter, the disks [1 and 18 turn together as a unit, and in thisoperative position they are latched together.

The shutter blade I! is provided with an arcuate slot l9 and the shutterblade I8 is provided with an arcuate slot 20 so that the degree ofoverlap of these two slots determines the length of an exposure becausethe shutter blade is always driven at the same speed.

In order to latch the shutter blades l1 and I8 together, shutter bladeI! is provided with a series of slots 22 which, in this instance, may beformed-on the periphery of the shutter platei These slots are spacedpredetermined distances were and are adapted to receive a, lug 23 formeda latched or operative,

on the periphery of shutter blade it. Thus, when the shutter blades arein the Fig. 4 position with the lug 23 lying in a slot 22, the latchelements 22-23 hold the plates with the slots 19 and 25} having thedesired overlap so that when the shutter blades are driven through arevolution, the effective width. of the. slot will cross the exposureaperture 5, thus making an exposure.

In order to adjust the width of the slot, the mechanism best shown inFigs. 4 and is employed. As herein shown, there is a speed settingmember in the form of a disk having the graduations l2 thereon; thesegraduationsbeing adapted to be registered with a pointer 13011 thecamera body to indicate the exposure. The speed setting member It isattached to a shaft; 25 which is mounted to slide in a slot 25 formed inthe top wall H. A spring 2'! lying in an aperture 28 normally thruststhe shaft 25 to one end of the slot 26' and into an inoperativeposition,as shown in Fig. 4. This is the position which. these parts assume whilean exposure is being-made, and, uness the exposure is to be altered,they remain in this inoperative position. If it is desired to alter theexposure, the speed setting member is moved in the direction shown bythe arrow in Fig. 5 until the stud 25 reaches the end of the slot 26, atwhich time two thin'*s will have. occurred. The stud 25 has a rounded'head 30 which. en ages a cam 3| carried on a. presser member 32; thispresser member being formed upwardly at 33, as shown in Fig; l, andbeing attached to the. camera wall 5 as by means of one or more rivets34-. When the stud head 36 engages the earn 3 l and the stud is moved tothe Fig. 5 position, the presser member 32 movesdownwardly, shown inFig. 5, so that the forked end 35, best shown in Fig. 1, may engage thedriving pin 36 carried by the shutter blade 18. When the forked member35 first engages the pin 36,. it looks the shutter blade it againstturning and continued movement of the stud 25 until it ridescompletelyxup the cam 3!, causes further downward movementof the forkedpin 35 so that the shutter blade 18 is moved downwardly on the stud I6which movement can occur because. of the-I elongated sot' 31 whichpermits the. sliding movement on the stud it. This downwardmovementmoves the latching lug 23 out of a latching notch 22 in theshutter blade i1 and, consequently, the shutter blade H is now free tomove except that, as this release occurs, one of the teeth 38 on a gear38, 'staked'on the stud meshes with one of the teeth 43 of the gearsegment 44 carried by the shutter blade ll. Thus, the shutter blade isnow engaged with the gear 39 so that any rotative movement of thesetting member is may turn the shutter blade I! relative to shutterblade it to adjust the slot between these members.

-It. is, of course, necessary to now latch the blades H and it together,and it is therefore necessary to register the latching lug 2 3 with alatching slot 22 of blade H. To accomplish this, I. provide an indexingdevice consisting of a plate 40 attached to the shaft 25' to turn withthe shaft. This plate has a series of slots 4! spaced about itsperiphery, and these slots are angularly located so that each time oneof these slots engages a downwardly extending pin 42, carried by thecamera wall 9-, the latching lug 23 can be engaged with a slot 22. Inother words, the angular spacing of the slots 22 and ii 'are adjustedrelative to each other, so that when t e w g 21 moves the stud 25 to theright, from the position shown in Fig. 5, toward the position shown inFig. 4, the gear 39 can only be unmeshed from the gear segment 40 when aslot 4| slides about the pin 42. When this can be done, the blades I7and it are so located that the lug 23 may engage its latchingcounterpart 2.2 as the blade It moves upwardly through spring tending tomove the ends 58 and SI apart as the stud $0 moves on the cam 3!. Thispermits the presser member 32 to rise under the influence of the springvmaterial of which. it is made, and, finally, to release the driving pin35. The parts will then be in their Fig. 4 position, in which positionthe blades are both free to rotate and from which position they may bedriven to make an exposure, as, disclosed in my copending applicationabove referred to, or by other suitable and known type of'dri'vingmechanism adapted to rotate a shutter blade one revolution to make anexposure.

In. thespring driving mechanism shown herein, by way of examp'e, theshutter trigger 4 consists.- of a lever 5 pivoted upon a stud 5i andhaving a hook-shaped end 52. Pivoted on the same stud l 51 is abellcrank lever 53 having a turned-over.-

lug 54 on one arm of the lever, and carrying a stud 55 on which lever 56is mounted; thisl'ever. having a book 5-! at one end and a pin 58 at.

the other end. Pin. 58 carries one end 59 of. a

hairpin type spring 60, the other end of which til encircles: thedriving pin: 35 carried by the shutter. blade !8. Aspring 62 tends toturnlever 53 in a. clockwise direction with respect to the pivot 51-. Asecond spring 4 is attached to I trigger 4, tending to always return thetrigger ato its rest position, here shown. in Fig. 1 as resting againsta stop pin A The trigger i may be moved in the direction shown by thearrow in Fig. 1 to initiate movement of the shutter. This swings lever53 and... lever 56 as: a unit in a clockwise direction so that the endof lever 56 moves in the direction shown by the arrow, compressing andreleasing the hairpin spring 68, causing the shutter b'ades to move as aunit. This swinging movement starts and. the slot between the bladesmoves to cross the, exposure aperture 5, but, after a limited swing ofthe shutter blades, the lever 56 swings about its pivot 55 releasing thehook 5-1 from the lug 52. When this occurs, spring 6? acts as a drivingmeans for moving the bellcrank 53 in a counterclockwise direction.thereby again tensioning and releasing the hairpin spring 60 in a mannerdescribed in my copending application, so that.

.. movement will continue, and, when the. trigger 4 is reeased at theend of the exposure, the lug 51 will snap over the lug 52 returning the.shutter parts to their initial or starting position, and the shutterwill come to rest with the pin 10 lyingagainstthe edge H (Fig. 1) of thebellcrank lever." While this is being accomplished, the shutter blade isrotated substantially 360 degrees. When the trigger 4 is again pressed,the shutter blades,. as before, will remain stationary whi e the pin 10lies against the edge H of the bellcrank lever arm, and, as soon as itis released by this arm.

moving with the trigger 4, the hairpin spring 60' may drive the bladesto turn together about the pivot IE to make an exposure. While the pin.10..

unit. When a different duration exposure is to be made, the adjustinmechanism can'be moved from an inoperative position to an operativeposition by merely sliding the knob I0 in its bearing, and this slidingmovement is the only movement that can take place when the indexingdevice elementsa slot 4| and pin ,42--are released. When fully released,the head 30 of the stud 25 has cammed the presser member 32 downwardlyto release lug 23 from a latching slot 22. The relation of the parts issuch that gearteeth 38- 33 become incompletely engaged before pin 42 isreleased from slot 4| so that shutter blade I! cannot move unless movedby gear 39. Continued sliding movement of disk completely meshes teeth38-43 and releases pin 42 from an indexing slot 4|. Thus, the shutterblade H is meshed with the adjusting knob while the shutter blade I8 isfirst latched against movement and the shutter is ready to be set for adifierent exposure time. The speed setting member I0. is then free torotate while still being held in its operative position in Fig. 5against the pressure of spring 2?. By turning this knob until therequired graduation is brought opposite the pointer l3,'blade I! will berotated while blade 58 remains stationary. -By releasing the knob Hi,the spring 21 moves it to the right to its inoperative position of Fig.4 in which position it is entirely disengaged from the shutter blades.If an operator should make a mistake and not register a graduation l2with the pointer l3, the knob I0 cannot return to its inoperativeposition because of the pin 42 fa ling to pass into a slot 4|. Also theteeth 38-43 cannot be disengaged. Thus, this indexing device preventsimproper movement, and, if the knob does not return to its initialposition, a slight turning movement will bring slot 4| into engagementwith thepin 42 at which time, of course, a slot 22 is in position to beengaged by lug 23. v

It will thus be seen that I have described a shutter exposure ad ustingmechanism in which the several objects of this invention are achieved,

and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use. Thedevice is comparatively simple and inexpensive.

As various embodiments may be readily mad and as various changes may bemade in the embodim nt above set forth, it is to be understood that allthe matter herein set forth and shown in t e accompanying drawings is tobe interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

: What I claim is:

l. A shutter exposure adjusting mechanism for use in camera shutters ofthe type includin a pair of relatively adjustable slotted shutter bladesadapted to swing past an exposure aperture to uncover and cover saidaperture, a shutter triggergand spring driving'mechanism releasable bymoving the trigger for swinging the shutter blades, said exposure adusting mechanism com prising a support, a shaft on which the pair ofshutter blades are mounted to turn'in overlapping relationship, oneshutter blade having a radially slid'eable connection with the shaft, aconnection between the spring of the spring mechanism and the radiallymovable blade normally holding said blade coaxially of the other shutterblade, latch elements on one blade, a latch element on the other bladefor engaging one of the latch elements on the first blade by moving-oneshutter blade radially "on the shaft withirespect-tothe other'shutterblade; said latch elements of the blades normally engaging, a pressermember for moving one shutter blade radially of the other t disengagethe latch elements, and a speed adjusting member movable into operativeengagement with a shutter blade for moving'said blade circumferentiallyof the other blade to vary the opening therebetween.

2. The shutter exposure adjusting mechanism defined in claim 1characterized by the presser member for moving one shutter bladeradially of the other engaging and locking the blade against rotarymovement.

3. The shutter exposure adjusting mechanism defined in claim 1characterized by the presser member including a blade holder forengaging and holding the radially moved blade against rotative movement.1

4. The shutter exposure adjustin mechanism defined in claim 1-characterized by the presser membenincluding a blade holder consistingof a protuberance on the radially movable blade, an end on the pressermember for engaging the protuberance to hold the blade againstcircumferential movement and to move the blade radially.

5. The shutter exposure adjusting mechanism defined in claim 1characterized by the presser member including a blade holder consistingof a protuberance on the radially movable blade, and a protuberanceengaging member on the presser member for engaging'the protuberance tohold the blade against circumferential movementand to move the bladeradially, said movement of the radially movable blade disengaging thelatch elements normally holding the blades in fixed relationship'.

6. The shutter exposure adjusting mechanism defined in claim 1characterized by the presser member including a blade holderconsisting'of a protuberance on the radially movable blade, and aprotuberance engaging member on the presser member for engaging theprotuberance to hold the blade against circumferential movement and tomove the blade radially, said movement of the radially movable bladedisengaging the latch elements normally holding the blades in fixedrelationship, and a movably mounted shutter speed setting member movableto and from Contact with 'the'unlatched shutter blade for moving theblade relative to the latched radially moved blade to adjust the slotbetween the two blades.

7. The shutter exposure adjusting mechanism defined in claim 1characterized by the presser member including a blade holder consistingof a protuberance on the radially movable blade, and a protuberanceengaging member on the presser member for engaging the protuberance tohold the blade against circumferential movement and to move the bladeradially, said movement of the radially movable blade disengaging thelatch elements normally holding the blades in fixed relationship, and amovably mounted shutter speed setting member movable to and from contactwith the unlatched shutter blade for moving the blade relative to thelatched radially moved blade to adjust the slot between the two blades,the contacting parts of the speed setting member and the shutter bladeincluding teeth on both the speed setting member and the shutter bladepositioned to mesh when the radially mcvable shutter blade is movedradially.

8. The shutter exposure adjusting mechanism defined in claim 1characterized by the presser member including a bladeholder consistingof a protuberance on the radially movable blade, and a protuberanceengaging..-member on the presser member for engagingthe protuberance to.hold 2 I radially movable blade disengaging thelatchz-elemeritsnormally.holdingthe blades in fixed rela- :tionship, and aamovably,mounted shutter speed setting member ,rnovable *to and ;from contactivithlthe unlatched. shutter blade, for moving'the wblade relative'tothe latched radially, moved blade etc adjust the" slotlbetween the twoblades, the scontacting parts of theispeed' setting member and theshutter blade includingteethlon both l t-he speed setting member; andthe shutter "blade positioned to'mesh when ithe radially movable.shutter blade isnmoved radially, and a spring etending -to unmesh thegears when the" radially movable blade moves to a positionin-whichrthetwo blades are latched together.

-.-9. -A shutter exposure adjusting mechanisnrior disc in:camerashutters of the type i-ncludinga pair of relatively adjustableslotted shutter blades .adaptedto swing-past an'exposure aperture touncover and .coversaid aperture, a shutter triggerg'and spring drivingmechanism releasable by moving thetrigger for swinging the shutterblades, saidexposure'adjusting mechanism com- 4 1 prising a support, 'ashaft on which the pair of shutter blades are mounted to turn inoverlapping relationship, one blade including a slot through which theshaft passes whereby said blade may be moved radially of the shaft, saidspring of the driving'mechanism engaging the radially movable blade andtending to hold said blade coaxially of the other shutter blade, latchelements on one blade arranged in predetermined pcsitionsa latch elementon one bladeforengaging a latch element on the other blade, :a latchelement on one blade being disconnectable from a latch element ontheother blade by moving one blade radially of the other, a pressuremember for moving one blade radially of the other to release the latchelements, a speed adjusting member movable intocontact with an unlatchedblade, and an indexing device comprising cooperating positioningelements on the speed adjustingmember on the support for. re g- .ulatingmovement of the speed adjusting member to positions ,in which thelatchpeleinents oi the bladesmay engagewhen theradially movable bladeinoves radially toward a latching position.

10. The shutter exposure adjusting mechanism defined involaini 9characterized int-hat the pressure member for moving one blade radiallyof the other blade is also movable by the shutter speed adjustingmember.

11. The shutter exposure adjusting mechanism defined in claim 9characterized in that the movable speed adjusting member may both turnand slide on the support-thee pressure member lying in the path ofandbeinginovable by the speed adjustingmember.

12. The shutter exposure :adjusting mechanism definedv in claim 9characterized in that-the movable speed adjusting member may both turnand slide on the support, the pressure member .lyingin theypath of andbeing movable by the speed adjusting :member as it slides, and theshutter blade contacting with the speed adjusting member being'movablerelative to the other blade through turning movement of the movablespeed' adjusting. member.

.13. A shutter ,exposure adjusting .inecha ,nisrn ior use ;-,in'rcam'erashutters .of the 'typelineluding a pairtof l relatively adjusta'bleslotted i-shutter blades i-adapted to :swing past Ian sex- 8 =zposureitaperture to :uncover :.and cover-said aperture, a "shaft on which oneshutter -blade: may -turn, the:other shutter;blade-.turning on theishaftand having-:awconnectionitherewith on which said blade may 1-, moveradially gai predetermined distance, a shutter trigger, and springdriving -mechanism including ;a hairpin spring "having ends alwaystending -'to lseparate .connectedto thezradially movable blade and -'tothe driving mechanism, :and tending tohold the radially slideable bladecoaxially of .the blade mounted "to' turn on the; shaft, 'saidspringbeing; releasable by 1 moving ithe trigger, for uswinging the shutterbla'desgsaid"exposure adjusting mechanism:comuprisings-aw suppo'rt,- a:shafton which the pair of :shutter blades are .mountedtoeturninoverlapping :relati'onship, Tlatch elements: On: one blade, l-a"latch"element onithe otherlblade for engaging one i of I the; latch :elementsonthe firstblade and normally .gengaging- 'one ilatch element, :said onelatch element- :being 'disengageable .from a latch element on the otherblade by moving 'theshutater blade radially, a presser ,inember formoving oneshutter lbla'de'radially of the other -,to diseengagethe latchelements, and ":a" speed :"adjusting=member movable into operativeengagement w'ith a shutter i-blade for moving said bladecircumferentiallyof 1 the I other 1 blade to vary "the opening'therebetween, tan indexing mechanism onithe speed=adj usting, mechanism{for controlling "the ;Lrel:ease 10f "said mechanism from-oper-ativezengage'ment with the shutter, "said indexing Vrnechanism rincludingcoacting; parts 1 to -'release said jmechanism 'When ailatch element ofthe shutter tb'lade' carrying latch elements is positionedto berengaged'bythe latch: element orthe ether" shutter blade.

"14.: A. Ishutter exposure uadjustirig -m'ec'l'ianis'm for use :incamera shutters of "the type: including :a pair or relatively adjustable'slotted sh-utter blades adapted to swing past 'ean exposure aperture touncover'and'i cover said aperture, a shaft 'onflwhich one shutter blademay turn; the other shutter rblade turning on "the shaft and "having 5 a'conn'e'ction therewith on 'which'said blade may *move radially apredetermined distance, taishutter trigger, and springidrivingrmechanisniKincludi-ng a' hairpin spring having 'endsalwaystending toseparateconnectedto' the radially mov- Jabie'blade and to thedriving mechanism/sand tending' to hold the radially slideable bladecoaxiall'yzof the blade mounted to :turn on the shaft, 'sai'd"springbeing'releasable by moving the trigger for swinging the shutterkbladesgsaid exposure adjusting-mechanism comprising -a supportra'shafton which the pair ofshutter blades 'are niounted to turn in overlappingrelationship, glatch elements on one blade; a latch element :on =theother. blade vfor engaging one-of the llatchtele :nients .on the firstblade and normally engaging 'one latch element; said one .latc'h:elementbeing disengageablefrom-a latch element on the other blade bymoving theshutterblade rad-ially, a lpresser member formovingone'shutterblade radiallyiof the other'to disengage'the latchselements,sand a fspeedadjusting member movable into "operative engagement with, ashutter -;blade -for moving .asaid :blade circumierentially hi the other--blade to vary the cpening thereb'etween, an indexing mechanismon thespeed adjust-ing mechanism .for zcon'trolling the release wof "said,mechanism rirom operative engagement of :the shutter, 's-aid indexingmechanism including -,coacting, rts to release said mechanisrn lwhen e.latchelementof athe shutterblade-carryinglatch elements is positionedto be engaged by the latch element of the other shutter, both thecoacting shutter blade latch elements and the indexing mechanismcoacting parts comprising a plurality of slots in one member and aprotuberance on the other member to enter one of the plurality of slots.7

15. A shutter exposure adjusting mechanism for use in camera shutters ofthe type including a pair of relatively adjustable slotted shutterblades adapted to swing past an exposure aperture to uncover and coversaid aperture, a shaft on which one shutter blade may turn, the othershutter blade turning on the shaft and having a connection therewith onwhich said blade may move radially a predetermined distance, a shuttertrigger, and spring driving mechanism including a hairpin spring havingends always tending to separate connected to the radially movable bladeand to the driving mechanism, and tending to hold the radially slideableblade coaxially of the blade mounted to turn on the shaft, said springbeing releasable by moving the trigger for swinging the shutter blades,said exposure adjusting mechanism comprising a support, a shaft on whichthe pair of shutterblades are mounted to turn in overlappingrelationship, latch elements onone blade, a latch element on the otherblade for engaging one of'the latch elements on the first blade andnormally engaging one latch element, said one latch element beingdisengageable from a latch element on the other blade by moving theshutter blade radially, a presser member for moving one shutter bladeradially of the other to disengage the latch elements, and a speedadjusting member movable into operative engagement with a shutter bladefor moving said blade circumferentially of the other blade to vary theopening therebetween, an indexing mechanism onthe speed adjustingmechanism for controlling the release of said mechanism from operativeengagement of the shutter, said indexing mechanism including coactingparts to release said mechanism when a latch element of the shutterblade carrying latch elements is positioned to be engaged by the latchelement of the other shutter, both the coacting shutter blade latchelements and the indexing mechanism coacting parts comprising aplurality of slots in one member and a protuberance on the other memberto enter one of the plurality of slots, both slotted members beingcircular in shape andhaving the slotsarranged about their peripheries inlike angular relationship whereby both the shutter blade latch elementsand the indexing coacting elements may be engaged at the same time.

' JOSEPH MIHALYI.

No references cited.

